Aussie writer with 1B+ content views in 10 years | I teach people to use writing online to create career opportunities | Let's connect: tim@timdenning.com

I quit my eCommerce startup with 100+ employees. Then got depressed, developed an eating disorder, and got a minimum-wage job in a bank. I now work for myself and make 7-figures writing.

I'm not that smart and have no college education. The way I used the internet made the difference.

And going to a Tony Robbins event changed my mindset. He taught me to go from being a victim to be in control.

This led to:

• 1B+ content views
• Financial freedom
• Book deal with a major publisher
• Meeting my heroes (like Tony Robbins)
• Quitting my banking career forever in 2021
• Multiple successful businesses fuelled by obsession

My mission: Help 100,000 people start online businesses. 

My beliefs that drive everything I do:

- Anything is possible
- Positivity above all
- Ego is the enemy
- Challenge the status quo
- Chase obsession, not passion
- Always be kind, grateful, and a good person

How can I help you?

• Social media audience building
• Starting or growing an online business

Join my email list with 200,000+ other high performers for more helpful insights:
https://timdenning.com/start-social-hustle-linkedin-bio/

Tim Denning

I interviewed 50 people who quit their jobs in 2024.

Here's what nobody tells you.

━━━━━

They didn't quit for more money

38 of them took pay cuts. Some massive ones

The software engineer who went from $180K to doing one-off writing gigs. The CMO who became a pottery teacher. The investment banker selling surfboards

Everyone said the same thing: "I'd do it again tomorrow"

━━━━━

The pattern that shocked me:

**The 3-month mark**
Everyone hits it. Pure terror. Bank account screaming. Partner questioning. Parents "concerned."

There's a twist: The ones who made it past month 3? They never looked back.

The ones who returned to corporate? All quit before day 90.

━━━━━

What they actually quit:

• Sunday night anxiety (47/50 mentioned this)
• Asking permission to live their lives
• Meetings about meetings about nothing
• Pretending to care about Q3 targets
• The soul-crushing commute
• Being "on" from 9-5 regardless of actual work

Not jobs. They quit the entire system.

━━━━━

The money truth nobody admits:

Month 1-3: Hemorrhaging cash
Month 4-6: Ramen profitable
Month 7-9: Matching old salary
Month 10-12: "Why didn't I do this sooner?"

But 23 of them said something that stopped me cold:

"Even if I never matched my salary, the freedom is worth more."

━━━━━

The unexpected side effects they reported:

• Marriage improved (32/50)
• Lost weight without trying (28/50)
• Stopped needing anxiety meds (19/50)
• Kids said they're "different" (better) (41/50)
• Sunday became just another day (50/50)

One guy: "I didn't quit my job. I quit dying slowly."

━━━━━

Their biggest regret?

Not the money lost
Not the security abandoned
Not the benefits forfeited

49 out of 50 said the same thing:

"I wish I'd done it sooner."

The 50th? She wished she'd been bolder

━━━━━

What made them pull the trigger:

• Health scare (12)
• Kid asking "why are you always tired?" (8)
• Passed over for promotion (7)
• Random Tuesday breakdown (11)
• Watching someone die with regrets (6)
• Just... done (6)

Not grand epiphanies. Just moments of clarity.

━━━━━

The skill they all developed:

Comfort with uncertainty.

Corporate trains you to fear the unknown. Quarterly forecasts. 5-year plans. Predictable misery.

These 50 learned something better: How to surf chaos.

━━━━━

The advice they'd give their past selves:

"Your backup plan is a prison"
"Start the side thing NOW"
"The fear never goes away, jump anyway"
"Corporate security is an illusion"
"Your kids need you present, not rich"

My favorite: "Stop asking for permission to live your own life"

━━━━━

None of them had it figured out
None of them were "ready."

All of them are more alive than when they had "secure" jobs.

━━━━━

To anyone reading this from a cubicle:

That feeling in your chest? It's not anxiety.

It's your life asking for permission to begin.

What's stopping you from escaping the rat race? 👇
♻️ Repost if you know someone who needs to read this

Join my Substack: https://lnkd.in/gMkRFmj9

Most people grind 40 years at a job they hate.

So they can retire at 67 and finally "start living."

If they make it that long.

━━━━━

Met a guy last week. 66 years old. One year from retirement.

Stage 3 cancer diagnosis.

"I was so close," he said. "One more year and I could've traveled."

40 years of waiting. For nothing.

━━━━━

The retirement lie we all bought:

• Suffer now, enjoy later
• Trade your best years for a pension
• Postpone happiness until 67
• Work yourself sick for "security"

Meanwhile, your knees give out. Your energy tanks. Your spouse becomes a stranger.

You saved all that money to enjoy a life your body can't live anymore.

━━━━━

I watch 30-year-olds planning for retirement like it's the f*cking promised land.

Contributing to 401ks while skipping their kid's soccer game.
Working weekends to boost that pension.
"Just 35 more years," they say.

35 years of Sunday night dread. 35 years of "not now, I'm working." 35 years of waiting to live.

For what? To be the richest person in the nursing home?

━━━━━

The people who get it do this instead:

Mini-retirements throughout life. Not one big one at the end.

Take 3 months off at 30. Travel for 6 months at 40. Start that business at 50.

Use your energy while you have it. See the world while you can walk it. Play with your kids while they still want you around.

━━━━━

"But I need job security!"

Your job isn't secure. Ask anyone laid off after 20 years.

Your health isn't guaranteed. Ask anyone with an unexpected diagnosis.

Your retirement isn't promised. Ask the 66-year-old with cancer.

The only thing guaranteed? Right now. Today.

━━━━━

Stop banking on someday.

Someday you'll travel. Someday you'll write that book. Someday you'll learn guitar. Someday you'll actually live.

Someday is a scam sold by companies that need you to believe happiness can wait.

It can't.

━━━━━

To everyone killing themselves for a retirement they might never see:

Take the trip now. Start the side project now. Have the experience now.

Your 67-year-old self doesn't want your money.

They want your memories.

What are you postponing until retirement that you could start today? 👇
♻️ Repost to share this idea with your network.

If you want to level up your career faster, then join my unconventional Substack newsletter with 162K others: https://lnkd.in/gMkRFmj9

My 4-Year-Old's Business Card Says 'CEO'

But she's only 2. And that's the whole f*cking point.

━━━━━

I'm already teaching her what corporate won't.

Not ABC's and 123's. The real curriculum:

How to fail without feeling like a failure.
How to ask for what you want without apologizing.
How to see problems as puzzles, not roadblocks.

While other parents prep their kids for employee life, I'm raising an owner.

━━━━━

Here's what I'm NOT teaching her:

• "Wait your turn" (opportunities don't queue)
• "Color inside the lines" (innovation lives in the margins)
• "Don't talk to strangers" (your network is your net worth)
• "Share everything" (know your value, price accordingly)
• "Be careful" (calculated risks beat careful stagnation)

Controversial? Maybe. But I've seen where conventional wisdom leads.

━━━━━

The corporate skills they'll teach her in school:

Sit still. Follow instructions. Ask permission. Wait for approval. Don't question authority. Memorize the right answers.

Perfect recipe for a middle manager in 2045.

━━━━━

The real skills I'm teaching her now:

**"No" is data, not rejection**
When she wants a cookie and I say no, we talk about negotiation. What else could she offer? Different timing? A trade?

**Money is a tool, not a goal**
Her piggy bank has three slots: Spend, Save, Give. She decides the ratios. Already learning money flows, not just accumulates.

**Problems are opportunities in disguise**
Toy broken? Let's fix it. Or invent something better. Can't reach something? Find a solution. Every obstacle is a chance to think.

━━━━━

My corporate friends think I'm nuts:

"Let her be a kid!"
"She needs structure!"
"What about college prep?"

Meanwhile, their kids are being groomed for jobs that won't exist.

━━━━━

By the time she's actually 4, she'll understand:

• Value creation vs time trading
• Asset building vs paycheck chasing
• Problem-solving vs permission-seeking
• Leadership vs management
• Ownership vs employment

Not because I'll lecture her. Because she'll live it.

━━━━━

The business card thing? It's not cute. It's preparation.

While other kids play "house," she'll play "startup."
While they practice being employees, she'll practice being the employer.
While they learn to fit in, she'll learn to stand out.

━━━━━

I'm not raising her to have a job.
I'm raising her to create jobs.

Not to work for the system.
But to build better systems.

━━━━━

Will she actually become a CEO? Who knows.

Maybe she'll be an artist. A teacher. A stay-at-home parent.

But she'll approach it like an owner, not an employee.

And that makes all the difference.

━━━━━

To every parent reading this:

The world needs more humans who think like owners.

Start young. Start now.

The employee mindset is learned. So is the entrepreneur mindset.

Choose wisely.

What "unconventional" skill are you teaching your kids? 👇
♻️ Repost if you're raising owners, not employees

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (U.S.A) Limited

- IT Business Analyst role for the team's proprietary system.
- Building a comprehensive library of operational and industry knowledge.
- Supervising and training two team members for operational procedures and industry knowledge.

Assistant Vice President

• Operated 90% of daily operational tasks, equivalent to 2-3 experienced workers' workload, and maintained 90+ % of pre-pandemic productivity and customer satisfaction.
• Provided the team up-to-date info and requirements of 15+ emerging markets and Euroclear by regularly engaging with these local sub-custodians.
• Identified key issues and completed 5 emerging markets-related special projects in a timely manner, in collaboration with local sub-custodians and internal teams.  
• Overhauled hiring & team-building processes by replacing exiting generic quizzes and short-sighted approaches with new interview methods and team-specific evaluation requirements.
• Developed new procedure manuals to enhance team members’ knowledge and performance.
• Trained and supervised 2 associate members.

Senior Associate

• Mastered the team’s essential tasks 3-5 times faster than usual employees, increasing team’s productivity 50+%, improving relationships with internal and external stakeholders and recapturing client satisfaction.
• Appointed as a Segregated Account Market Specialist by the end of the first year in recognition of the efforts in developing good industry knowledge and expanding responsibilities voluntarily.
• Acquired good fundamental industry understanding and knowledge quickly, such as about global market requirements, SWIFT, Proxy Voting, FX, Double Tax Treaties, KYC/Compliance, trade and settlement.

Associate

Temporary Administrator

Freelance for NHK, Japan Broadcasting Corp. (public television network similar to PBS)

Primary Responsibilities: 
- Coordinated lengthy complex TV projects with multi-level professionals in 30+ states, Canada, Caribbean & Mexico. 
- Researched various topics, including economics/finance, historical events and current affairs, using online resources, phone & in-person interviews, database and other methods.
- Made strategy-appropriate recommendations on locations, interviewees, supporting materials to achieve project goals.
- Planned and setup the entire filming schedules, insurance, permits, transportation and accommodation.
- Managed worldwide copy rights clearance and contracts from rights holders in the US & Europe. 

Example Projects: 
2,000-foot Submersible Dive in the Pacific Ocean for WWII submarine exploration, 2016 US Presidential Election Coverage, 2008 Subprime Mortgage Crisis, DC Sniper Case, Real Pirates of the Caribbean, San Bernardino Shooting, Artist Hiroshi Senju.

Key Accomplishments:
• Delivered comprehensive research reports by conducting investigative research and finding new avenues to obtain information.
• Consistently met projects’ goals and deadlines by proactively preparing for many conceivable scenarios, adapting to ever-changing situations and developing collaborative & productive working relationships.
• Created feasible project schedules, often covering multiple states/locations, as the “project hub”, by collaborating and coordinating with a variety of professionals using interpersonal (written & verbal) and project management skills.
• Eliminated risks of contractual disputes for location permits and intellectual property rights.
• Helped projects stay within budget by exploring options and negotiating fees and conditions.

Research, Project Management & Rights Clearance for Documentary & News Programs

New York Stock Exchange - Euronext

Reported directly to the Director of Global Marketing and Branding Department, actively took part in researching targeted companies and creating marketing materials, including social media content and promotional materials, in order to enhance the magnitude of corporate branding as well as the depth of customer engagement.  Assisted the Event Team on Initial Public Offering days, including Twitter's and Container Stores'.

- Created two designs for marketing materials used by the NYSE
- Maintained zero-error in entering data into Excel for a customer engagement program
- Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new software and organizational process/workflow

Global Marketing and Branding Intern

Topspin Creative Corp.

Researched, coordinated and managed TV projects on a wide variety of subjects, such as business, economics, finance, art, history, sports, crime and human interest.  Led cross-functional team members, conducted on-camera interviews, arranged travel and logistics/equipment for projects in multiple states in the US and Canada.  Directly dealt with rights holders of various intellectual properties, and acquired rights and executed contracts.  Took care of necessary bookkeeping and administrative tasks as well.

As a Stage Manager, mediated and liaised with on-camera personnel, production crew and audience during rehearsals, live satellite broadcasts for NHK in various venues and public settings, prioritized contents and activities of the programs while maintaining minute-by-minute timing

Pacific Street Films

Responsible for clearing rights of movie clips, footage and photographs for full-length American documentaries. Assisted post-production procedures including editing sessions on AVID.

- Eliminated chances of contractual disputes by accurately creating deliverables, including rights bibles and music cue sheets, to the networks
- Optimized efficiency of post-production procedures by maintaining schedule and tracking progress
- Helped obtain a new co-production deal for a Spanish documentary about opera singer Montserrat Caballe

Assistant Producer

Freelance, Full-Time, for Asashi, Yomiuri, Mainichi Television Networks

- Prioritized contents and actions of the programs while maintaining minute-by-minute timing
- Mediated and liaised with on-camera personnel, production crew and audience during rehearsals, live broadcasts and recordings in TV studios, various venues and public settings 
- Researched and coordinated productions for various TV shows such as talk, travel, entertainment and dramas

Floor/Stage Manager for TV productions

Totsu Planning, Co.

- Worked closely with the director and producer of the shows throughout the pre-production to post-production stages
- Directed a variety of on-camera talents, guests as well as crew and staff members during rehearsals, live broadcast and recordings in TV studios and various venues

Assistant Director and Stage Manager

Sotoba-Komachi & Dum Dum Dan theater companies

Volunteer position with following functions:
- Acquired sponsorships 
- Created production budgets
- Oversaw sales and expenses, and maintained bookkeeping
- Prepared press invitations, welcomed them and accommodated their needs  
- Arranged ticket sales with ticketing companies

Associate Producer

⭐️ FINRA SIE holder ⭐️Macroeconomics Enthusiast⭐️Natural-born Researcher⭐️Problem-Solver⭐️Help Achieve HIGHER Productivity, Efficiencies, Client Satisfaction⭐️Team Builder⭐️Happy to obtain Series 7

How did I become AVP from a temp in finance, a brand-new industry for me, in 5 years?  🔔 I fully used my research, analytical and soft skills I earned during my TV documentary/news production career.
💡My method is:
Deconstruct the problems to pin point the root causes → Research → Come up with creative ideas/suggestions → Hear team's opinions → Analyze again for feasibility and practicality for short- & long-term → Lead discussion further → Implementation → Success!

This who I am:
📌Very Quick Learner 
     (about industries, companies, operational procedures, software, etc.) (I've saved money & manpower for years for my employers)
📌 Creative Self-Starter 
     (90% of the time, I'm the 1st one in the team who initiates questions and suggest ideas)
📌 Relationship Cultivator 
      (I've worked with academics, govt officials to celebrities, etc. in 30+ states &  other countries)
📌 Analytical Problem Solver 
      (Improved operational procedures, hiring methods/team quality)(Achieved goals of multi-state projects)
📌Natural-born Researcher with Relentless Intellectual Curiosity 
      (2 Bachelor's degree, SIE)
      (Continuous learning is going on)

I'm building up skills/knowledge of:
📌Macro Economics
📌Investment and financial markets 
📌 Currencies and energy sectors

Check out my daily posts on LinkedIn!

taplio

The Battle

Tim Denning

Masako Uetani

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreTim Denning's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Tim Denning

Masako Uetani

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Tim Denning's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreTim Denning's LinkedIn Performance